IT Employment

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Laptop resistance

We are migrating faculty from desktops to laptops for a variety of business reasons. We are meeting with a great deal of resistance. Here's a sample issue that I am wondering if anyone out there has seen or addressed:

I am having no luck trying to type on my laptop without pain in my wrists. If I do decide to take on the laptop, I will need a "broken" keyboard, much like the Microsoft Natural Keyboard. That exact one is not necessary, I know it is expensive. I also need a wheelmouse of some type.

Why this person feels they need these things is somewhat beyond me, but perhaps you have some suggestions as to how to make this transition more palatable to our users.

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Laptop resistance

How about a compromise of getting them an "Ergonomic" KB and an external Mouse. Then have them plug those into the back of the laptop. All that will cost you is the price of a "Ergonomic" KB and Mouse.

You could even go a few steps further and get a docking station, an external KB, Mouse and Monitor and allow the user to be setup like a desktop. Most docking station have network and LPT ports and sound on them.

I have used this setup before for similar reasons where sales people where involved.

Laptop resistance

Laptop resistance

Well you might be migrating them for some quite sound business reasons but the user you quoted has a very good point as well. The ergonomics of a laptop are really quite terrible. At the very least I would supply the users with another keyboard and mouse to use at the "home" port. An external monitor, while expensive, will also go a long way toward relieving some of that strain - on you and them :-)

There are also plenty of resources available on the net to teach people good computing habits! ie; how to prevent repetitive injury and such.

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